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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2014 0:34:02 GMT -1
So today I got fifteen pages of utter shite from Scottish Gas, fourteen pages of which were completely fecking irrelevant glossy marketing TOSH. The one relevant page informed me that by their 'estimate' chez Rolo have used £456 quids worth of gas between Dec and March. Have we feck. So I went and read the meter and entered the numbers on the Scottish Gas website. Next thing, the fecking thing EMAILS me saying, 'Are you sure you have entered these figures correctly? In our estimate these figures fall short of our estimate of your usage. Please reread and enter the correct figure." Furious, I entered the same number only to be told that someone will be in touch regarding the apparent 'disparity'. You know what: I HATE IT that it's come to this; everyone apparently treated as guilty of some kind of 'fraud' until proved innocent. The simple fact is this: energy costs in Scotland are SO out there (in an energy-rich country) that ordinary folks are YES.........using less energy, switching the heating to the 'Bare Minimum, Almost Baltic' setting while swathing themselves in layers of blankets and going to bed in the depths of winter at 7 pm. Needless to say, I've invited Scottish Gas to drop by anytime to verify the meter reading. And I'm withholding payment until they do. Cos by my reckoning (and don't they JUST make the whole billing thing so complicated with their fecking KWH hrs divided by the day of the week to the power of 117 + 120% of the retail price index..) I owe them (at best) two thirds of what they're demanding. These fuckwits need putting in their place. And the more of us that challenge rather than just paying up, the better. For every overpayment we get back over time--they are making the interest and I for one have had ENOUGH.  |
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Post by notanimby on Apr 29, 2014 3:09:10 GMT -1
So today I got fifteen pages of utter shite from Scottish Gas, fourteen pages of which were completely fecking irrelevant glossy marketing TOSH. The one relevant page informed me that by their 'estimate' chez Rolo have used £456 quids worth of gas between Dec and March. Have we feck. So I went and read the meter and entered the numbers on the Scottish Gas website. Next thing, the fecking thing EMAILS me saying, 'Are you sure you have entered these figures correctly? In our estimate these figures fall short of our estimate of your usage. Please reread and enter the correct figure." Furious, I entered the same number only to be told that someone will be in touch regarding the apparent 'disparity'. You know what: I HATE IT that it's come to this; everyone apparently treated as guilty of some kind of 'fraud' until proved innocent. The simple fact is this: energy costs in Scotland are SO out there (in an energy-rich country) that ordinary folks are YES.........using less energy, switching the heating to the 'Bare Minimum, Almost Baltic' setting while swathing themselves in layers of blankets and going to bed in the depths of winter at 7 pm. Needless to say, I've invited Scottish Gas to drop by anytime to verify the meter reading. And I'm withholding payment until they do. Cos by my reckoning (and don't they JUST make the whole billing thing so complicated with their fecking KWH hrs divided by the day of the week to the power of 117 + 120% of the retail price index..) I owe them (at best) two thirds of what they're demanding. These fuckwits need putting in their place. And the more of us that challenge rather than just paying up, the better. For every overpayment we get back over time--they are making the interest and I for one have had ENOUGH. Using British Gas was your first mistake, sticking with them is your second........................ |
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Post by ozneil on Apr 29, 2014 3:16:59 GMT -1
Emigrate to Sunny Queensland... dont need heating or even a coat! teq.lookat.me.com.au/ Gees I would love to go back there but too settled in Sydney now Mind you www.tripadvisor.com.au/LocationPhotos-g255060-w10-Sydney_New_South_Wales.htmlYou do need a jacket in winter  Winter 66/67 finally convinced me that there was more to life than a good shiver and shovelling snow. Remember lying in bed shivering then at 4:30 hearing the gas boiler light and pipes starting to click as they heated bedrooms set at 55F now if it drops below 70F start looking for sweater God it was cold but the Campsies covered in snow as seen from bedroom window was magnificent against a blue sky |
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Post by notanimby on Apr 29, 2014 19:32:39 GMT -1
I've not had problems with the aforementioned company and indeed having just moved recently to a property, I've just instructed them to take over my supply from a Perth based company that was way over the top for its prices and poor with its customer service. However, that said, I would suggest that the next thing you do is to go onto ALL the comparison websites and then do your own homework - it took me a few weeks but I've currently got the best deal there is to be had and this was double checked for me by a very savvy friend in the industry. He would advise switching every few years too.... Unfortunately I ave and I don't even get gas or leaky from them. That encounter was enough for me never to let them darken my door ever, for anything |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2014 18:31:21 GMT -1
Using British Gas was your first mistake, sticking with them is your second........................ Probably true, Nota. Apologies for the sweary rant back there, I was in *furious* mode, clearly  (I dunno, folks, I really just resent the implication that by doing your own meter reads you're 'suspected' of some kind of fraud. I imagine the vast majority of folks in Scotland are using less energy this winter due to the bloody price, hardly rocket science, is it?..) I've actually done a few price comparisons with other suppliers, via Martin Lewis's scheme whereby you fill in your usage and they email you every few months with comparisons across providers. I guess saving a couple of hundred pounds at best over a year is OK. But I've also heard from MANY people who've 'switched' that given the time delays, double billing and trying to get your upfront direct debits paid back (if they owe YOU money) is hardly worth the hassle. Does anyone know different? (but back on energy prices for a second: it is RIDICULOUS that in energy-rich Scotland, people who are working and earning are finding it uber-expensive to even minimally heat the house...I'm not alone in that and we're all fit and well in this house---unlike many who need heating during the day..) oh Grrr, that's me off on one again so I'll shut up now |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2014 19:20:05 GMT -1
Emigrate to Sunny Queensland... dont need heating or even a coat! teq.lookat.me.com.au/ Gees I would love to go back there but too settled in Sydney now Mind you www.tripadvisor.com.au/LocationPhotos-g255060-w10-Sydney_New_South_Wales.htmlYou do need a jacket in winter Winter 66/67 finally convinced me that there was more to life than a good shiver and shovelling snow. Remember lying in bed shivering then at 4:30 hearing the gas boiler light and pipes starting to click as they heated bedrooms set at 55F now if it drops below 70F start looking for sweater God it was cold but the Campsies covered in snow as seen from bedroom window was magnificent against a blue sky I quite like the distinct seasons, Oz, if I'm honest. But what I DO object to is being held to ransom by energy companies, who are making HUGE profits. I'd like to live in a Scotland where nobody goes cold because they're scared of the cost of heating. Most particularly those who aren't able to be out and about during winter days, who need heating at home because they're ill or infirm. Then again, while Australia is fantastic in every way, 110%-- when chittering in the bathroom of a morning/late night, I'd rather chitter than have to worry about a redback nestling under the toilet seat.  |
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Post by notanimby on Apr 30, 2014 19:24:18 GMT -1
Using British Gas was your first mistake, sticking with them is your second........................ Probably true, Nota. Apologies for the sweary rant back there, I was in *furious* mode, clearly (I dunno, folks, I really just resent the implication that by doing your own meter reads you're 'suspected' of some kind of fraud. I imagine the vast majority of folks in Scotland are using less energy this winter due to the bloody price, hardly rocket science, is it?..) I've actually done a few price comparisons with other suppliers, via Martin Lewis's scheme whereby you fill in your usage and they email you every few months with comparisons across providers. I guess saving a couple of hundred pounds at best over a year is OK. But I've also heard from MANY people who've 'switched' that given the time delays, double billing and trying to get your upfront direct debits paid back (if they owe YOU money) is hardly worth the hassle. Does anyone know different? (but back on energy prices for a second: it is RIDICULOUS that in energy-rich Scotland, people who are working and earning are finding it uber-expensive to even minimally heat the house...I'm not alone in that and we're all fit and well in this house---unlike many who need heating during the day..) oh Grrr, that's me off on one again so I'll shut up now We've never changed in the 14 years we've been here, with Scottish Power for both and can't complain, they were incumbent supplier in new estate. We are on their cheapest rate and would be luck to save £2 per week if we changed, not worth the hassle in the lightest. Those headline figures you see of people saving hundreds of pounds per year is those folks who have no discounts for dual fuel, on standard tariff , blah, blah, blah. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2014 20:13:28 GMT -1
I've not had problems with the aforementioned company and indeed having just moved recently to a property, I've just instructed them to take over my supply from a Perth based company that was way over the top for its prices and poor with its customer service. However, that said, I would suggest that the next thing you do is to go onto ALL the comparison websites and then do your own homework - it took me a few weeks but I've currently got the best deal there is to be had and this was double checked for me by a very savvy friend in the industry. He would advise switching every few years too.... Good to know, Gilly. The whole shebang's ridiculously confusing: I'm reasonably numerate and I still find myself bogged down by the complicated calculations required to get to the bottom line. I imagine if I was retired or semi-retired I'd probably think it worthwhile to spend time saving a couple of hundred quid a year. But I'm not. And of course these huge conglomerates rely on that fact, don't they just? On the related topic of switching bank accounts/ISAs etc: I sat down with my account manager recently and asked for a better, more competitive deal. Took 15 mins and I got a good result, while saving the hassle of moving accounts. If you go in armed with competitive quotes, you're on a win-win. I found that principle worked for me renegotiating phone contract too. |
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Post by ozneil on Apr 30, 2014 21:34:55 GMT -1
We go thru exactly the same stramash here with gas, electricity, phones and internet. I now have a spread sheet made up which works pretty well.
Telstra provide phones and internet (cable) could prob save about $10 a month with others but the sales lady put in the clincher. She told me Telstra owned and serviced all the wires and other gear so no matter who I went with telstra would do the repairs and nasturally their own customers got preferential treatment regarding faults. Sold!!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2014 21:59:46 GMT -1
That all said I do think the competitive nature of trying to save a few quid here and there is maybe taking us in a race to the bottom, while the big companies will always survive and continue to profit. New starts have little chance up against the big established monopolies, don't they? Money-saving, in the current climate, could get a bit obsessive and I think it does for many people. Comparison sites all good and well for info but in reality, I'm not about to spend precious time shopping in four different supermarkets just because of the occasional loss-leader offer. Saving a pound or two on a pound of mince isn't really saving if you have to spend out fuel/bus fares to get to where the offer is. And you can be guaranteed that other essential items like milk, bread whatever will be higher priced where there's a seemingly spectacular offer on 'luxury' items. We're all f*cked, frankly. The big supermarkets work on economy of scale, give it short term *offers* and drive smaller local businesses out of er... business. Then they put their prices up. I think we've gone WAY beyond market-driven economy because REAL choices are so few and the cards are stacked in the favour of the big conglomerates. The ones that evade paying proper taxes. The ones that pay their people minimum wage so that the taxpayer has to top them up with working tax credits. Don't START me. |
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Post by ozneil on Apr 30, 2014 22:51:21 GMT -1
Funnily enough with all my working out etc etc in my research I found there are only 2 fully Oz owned companies for power & gas so I go to them only. Best keep the $$ here
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Post by celyn on May 1, 2014 7:43:30 GMT -1
Blasted Scottish Power thinks I use £110 of electricity every month. I doubt that I do, as there's only one of me and I'm pretty careful about power usage. However, since I can't work out how to give them a reading online, one of their meter readers will have to come and visit, so I'm hoping to end up with a more sensible amount.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2014 18:41:13 GMT -1
Hi Celyn, I too have Scottish Power for electricity and give my meter readings (and pay bills) online via a pre-registered debit card. I find it quick, efficient and easy.
If it's any help at all, you have to open an account: they'll need your email address plus your choice of password to register.
Once your registration is complete, they'll email you to confirm. At that point you can access how to give meter readings etc. I find it quite straightforward and it's also good you can see on the site all your previous bills and how they compare over time.
Pls see my next post re monthly payment instalments.
best
R
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Post by notanimby on May 1, 2014 18:50:19 GMT -1
Hi Celyn, I too have Scottish Power for electricity and give my meter readings (and pay bills) online via a pre-registered debit card. I find it quick, efficient and easy. If it's any help at all, you have to open an account: they'll need your email address plus your choice of password to register. Once your registration is complete, they'll email you to confirm. At that point you can access how to give meter readings etc. I find it quite straightforward and it's also good you can see on the site all your previous bills and how they compare over time. Pls see my next post re monthly payment instalments. best R We too have a tinternet based account with Scottish power ( for both) tinternet tariffs tend to be cheapest. They email every so often to say input meter readings and they adjust payment to suit. |
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2014 19:42:57 GMT -1
NOW-- a bit of a result today due to my dogged display of *civil disobedience* re Scottish GAS. See that alleged £456 gas bill for Dec-March? Take £200 off that. Yes, £200They've written to me and recalibrated the amount due. This has also resulted in my DD monthly payment being reduced from a frankly silly £128 a month to just £100 for the next 12 months. That's a whole lot less of my hard-earned they can accrue interest on.. Couple of issues here: 1)Paying by DD monthly is only of value if your usage stays pretty constant over 12 months compared to previous years. But my point being, it doesn't, necessarily Especially in a recession where people economise on heating...because energy bills continue to rise at WAYYY more than inflation while wages are stagnant in most cases... 2) They continue to send estimated accounts for three out of the four quarters-- as if the meter was somehow not 'available' for reading--- when in actual fact ours is in the front porch and doesn't require you to 'be at home' to let in the meter reader. I keep getting estimated bills implying the meter reader didn't have access (utter nonsense!) Tt's just a convenient 'excuse' on Scottish Gas's part to save on labour costs and charge us upfront on gas we've not bloody well used yet. And another thing while I'm on it. I really OBJECT to the amount of paper/resources used in the quarterly billing process. All I need is to know my usage and my bill. If I WANT a new boiler, if I WANT to know all the glossy PR details about Scottish Gas this, Scottish Gas that.. I'll find that info in my own time. Tis simple. One a4 page folded into three, in a small envelope. Not fifteen full colour pages in a big envelope. Christ. It's OUR money they're burning. |
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